Harry James[57] Potter (b.
31 July,
1980[1]) was a
half-blood[2] wizard, one of the most famous wizards of modern times. He was the only child and son of
James and
Lily Potter (née
Evans), both members of the original
Order of the Phoenix. Harry's birth was overshadowed by a
prophecy, naming either himself or
Neville Longbottom as the one with the power to vanquish
Lord Voldemort. After half of the prophecy was reported to Voldemort courtesy of
Severus Snape, Harry was chosen as the target due to his many similarities with the Dark Lord. This caused the Potter family to go into hiding. Voldemort made his first
vain attempt to circumvent the prophecy when Harry was a year and three months old. During this attempt he murdered Harry's parents as they tried to protect him, but this unsuccessful attempt to kill Harry led to Voldemort's first downfall. This downfall marked the end of the
First Wizarding War, and to Harry henceforth being known as the "Boy Who Lived".
[5]
One consequence of Lily's
loving sacrifice was that her orphaned son had to be raised by her only remaining blood relative, his
Muggle aunt
Petunia Dursley. While in her care he would be protected from Lord Voldemort, due to the
Bond of Bloodcharm
Albus Dumbledore placed upon him.
[58] This powerful charm would protect him until he became of age, or no longer called his aunt's house home. Harry's time with the Durselys was harsh, but necessary. As the only known survivor of the
Killing Curse (up to that point), Harry was already famous before he arrived at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
On his eleventh birthday, Harry learned that he was a wizard.
[59] He began attending Hogwarts in
1991 and was Sorted into
Gryffindor House.
[60] While at school Harry became best friends with
Ron Weasley and
Hermione Granger. He later became the youngest
Quidditch Seeker in over a century and eventually the
captain of his house's team, winning two
Quidditch Cups.
[61] He became even better known in his early years for protecting the
Philosopher's Stone from Voldemort, saving Ron's sister
Ginny Weasley, solving the mystery of the
Chamber of Secrets, slaying
Salazar Slytherin's
basilisk, and learning how to conjure a corporeal stag
Patronus at the age of thirteen. In his fourth year, Harry won the
Triwizard Tournament, although the competition ended with the tragic death of
Cedric Diggory and the
return of Lord Voldemort. During the next school year, Harry reluctantly taught and led
Dumbledore's Army. He also fought in the
Battle of the Department of Mysteries, during which he lost his godfather,
Sirius Black.
Harry played a significant role in many other battles of the
Second Wizarding War. He, Ron, and Hermione hunted down and destroyed Voldemort's
Horcruxes. During the
Battle of Hogwarts Harry personally saw the deaths of
Severus Snape and
Fred Weasley and learned that
Remus Lupin,
Nymphadora Tonks,
Colin Creevey, and many
others had fallen in battle as well. He encountered Voldemort and sacrificed himself, knowing that his doing so was the only way to destroy the fragment of Voldemort's soul inside him. In
limbo, after Voldemort cursed him in the
forest clearing, Albus Dumbledore gave Harry advice and background information on the Dark Lord. When told he could choose to live or to "move on", Harry chose to live. After he awoke he confronted Voldemort and defeated him once and for all.
